The Dark Society

87

 Sabrina greeted the dawn while Luis lay beside her with no intention of stirring. They'd surrendered to temptation, ignoring probable consequences. Still, they snuggled together, laughing like teenagers.

"You have to take me home--that's the agreement, remember?" she whispered.

He smiled.

"What if I don't want to?"

Sabrina checked the time. It was late morning, and she'd been gone all night. Even so, she and her parents had an understanding, and Tim and Julia trusted her judgment. Luis, however, looked panicked about Tim's potential reaction.

"We have a few minutes," she whispered, removing the duvet.

Luis was reluctant, moving into the bathroom as Sabrina watched with newfound excitement. It'd become clear--they'd fallen in love and weren't ashamed of it. Though, as an ordained sister of Saint Anthony's, Sabrina's chastity stood sacred. So, above and beyond, last night needed to remain secret. At that exact moment, Tim and Julia sat together, contemplating a troubling future. A mutual concern they both recognized.

Tim stared into the distance.

"You contacted Katherine?"

Julia settled beside him.

"I had no choice."

He stroked her wrist. Peering over the mark visible beneath her skin. They both hoped to escape the legacy of evil it carried. Yet, they wouldn't alarm Sabrina despite a persistent curiosity. Gazing into the distance, Tim agonized.

"It's as we feared--the prophecy is correct," he stated. "The coven wars are beginning."

"Yes, as the elders foresaw."

Though doubts remained, Julia discovered a terrible truth. Because of that, she didn't expect to hear from Jennifer due to a connection with Samantha. More, if Jennifer was who Julia believed, the day witches were still involved. Jennifer's admissions were revealing, and she implicated herself with no escape. Still, Samantha understood and was the one who could save Jennifer from obscurity.

"You're afraid," Samantha observed from the doorway.

Jennifer turned.

"Shouldn't I be?"

"No," Sam answered, extending her hand.

They'd been apart for years. Though, Samantha remained steadfast as fingers intertwined and a forbidden love renewed. Above all, there would be time to talk, but Jennifer wasn't in the proper mindset. Meanwhile, Samantha made herself comfortable amid constant memories of Sabrina and Saint Anthony's.

Hours later, after Jennifer drifted off to sleep, Samantha's curiosity stirred. Saint Anthony's was an embodiment of mystery, and finding Sabrina only enhanced suspicions. Thus, Sam no longer suppresses instincts or contests feelings. After gathering personal items, Sam returned to the Bistro. And when Sabrina and Luis departed, she followed. However, as they arrived home, Samantha occupied an isolated area of the nearby forest.

"What are you afraid of?" Sabrina asked.

"Your father," Luis answered.

"I'm home safe and that's all that matters."

Tim was glaring with his usual stern expression. But, Sabrina held an advantage--he enjoyed the drama.

"If he's going to kill you, you might as well get it over with," she joked.

Tim remained silent as Luis and Sabrina approached. However, when Julia emerged, Luis looked relieved.

"Good morning, Dad."

"Morning," he answered, keeping fixed on Luis.

"Don't worry about him," Julia announced, urging everyone inside. "He's always in a foul mood before breakfast."

Luis climbed the steps as her father placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"I trust everything went well?"

"It did," Luis confirmed, settling at the kitchen table.

Her father wanted specifics. Yet, he figured meddling in Sabrina's love life was better suited for Julia. So, he took a seat in the living room and listened.

"Does he always behave like this?" Luis whispered.

Julia giggled.

"It's your first official date--can you blame him?"

"By the way," Sabrina interjected, "how was your night with Jim and Caroline?"

"It went well," Julia confirmed. "We discovered we have a lot in common."

Luis grinned immediately--this was the news he'd been waiting to hear. Besides, getting everyone together was challenging. But, knowing they'd become friends was a relief.

"What have we here?" Julia inquired, noticing her daughter's latest acquisition.

Sabrina smiled and presented Luis's gift.

"Don't let your father see that," her mother advised after admiring the enclosed photograph.

Tim soon returned to the kitchen.

"You up for some fishing?"

Sabrina beamed.

"You bet!"

Tim glanced toward Luis and grinned.

"Would you like to join us?"

"I would, thank you."

Tim never took such an interest in someone before. But, Luis felt welcomed, so Sabrina didn't question the invitation.